Seeing Kimimaro about to retract his bone spikes, Tetsuya frowned.
"Kimimaro, would it affect you if these bone spikes broke or got lost?"
Kimimaro paused, then immediately answered.
"No. These bones are products I created by using chakra to activate my kekkei genkai. It doesn't matter if I don't reclaim them, but reclaiming them restores some chakra."
"I see. Then from now on, just discard any bone spikes you release. Losing a little chakra is no big deal. Who knows what your bone spikes pick up during combat? Taking them back into your body won't do you any good."
Kimimaro froze at that. He couldn't quite understand what Tetsuya meant and looked toward Kabuto Yakushi beside him.
Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses and explained with a smile.
"Lord Chiba is correct. The natural environment contains many viruses and bacteria invisible to the naked eye. Normally, our skin and various mucous membranes protect us, keeping them from affecting us.
"But if we have a wound, or retract exposed bones into our bodies the way you do, those things enter our bodies along with them. Small amounts, or exposure over a short period, might not cause any problems.
"But if they keep accumulating day after day, their dangers will reveal themselves once enough time has passed, or our bodies begin to weaken."
"I see. I understand now. Thank you, my lord."
After hearing the explanation from Kabuto Yakushi, the expert, Kimimaro snapped off the bone spikes and casually discarded them.
Freed from the bone-spike cage, Sasuke hurriedly pulled himself free of the spikes on his body, then glared at Kimimaro.
Kimimaro simply stared back blankly, as though saying that if Sasuke wasn't satisfied, he could try again.
Although Sasuke had received Orochimaru's guidance and fully awakened his two tomoe, that wasn't enough.